
Kim Kardashian West was reportedly gagged and bound while men dressed as police stole more than $10 million worth of jewelry from her Paris residence late on Sunday night.
The prosecutor's office said a ring worth an estimated $4.49 million and other jewelry valued at $5.6 million were among the items stolen. It's unclear which ring in particular was taken by the thieves, but latest reports suggest the assailants were targeting the brand-new super-size Lorraine Schwartz diamond ring Kim was given by her husband Kanye West in September.
E! News has confirmed this "second" engagement ring (she was given a 15-carat engagement ring, also by designed Schwartz, when West proposed in 2013) is made from a 20-carat emerald-cut diamond, and Kim hasn't exactly been shy about flaunting it on social media. A recent selfie, taken three days before the robbery, showed the ring in all its glory, and quickly received 1.2 million likes on Instagram.
A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian)
A photo posted by on
On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for police in Paris said this public promotion of the ring could have driven the thieves to target Kim.
"Clearly when you have a star like Kim Kardashian who has more than 48 million followers on Twitter...I think this could have happened abroad just as easily as in Paris," Johanna Primevert, chief spokeswoman for the Paris police department, told the Associated Press.
"It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media, and it was these goods that the attackers targeted," she added.
Kim's Paris selfie wasn't the first time the ring had been seen on Instagram, though. Designer Schwartz shared video footage of the star wearing it, alongside her original engagement ring, three weeks ago. Schwartz confirmed it was D-Flawless and type 2A, which are said to be the purest and most valuable type of diamonds in the world.
A post shared by Lorraine Schwartz (@lorraineschwartz)
A photo posted by on
Kim has now safely returned to New York, noticeably without the ring, but questions around what happens next to her jewelry remain unanswered. According to a security expert, a rare diamond owned by one of the most high-profile celebrities in the world will be extremely difficult to sell.
"The stone will most likely end up broken down into smaller pieces," Lee Henderson, an intelligence officer at SaferGems, told CNN. "Otherwise it will be very difficult to sell. Nobody will want to handle it."
The police investigation into how this shocking robbery took place continues.
Follow Marie Claire on Facebook for the latest celeb news, beauty tips, fascinating reads, livestream video, and more.
-
The Perfumer Behind Last Year's Most Talked-About Fragrance Just Released Another Perfect Scent
Aqua Media Cologne forte embodies a feeling of balance and harmony.
By Deena Campbell
-
'Yellowface' Is Our June Book Club Pick
Read an excerpt from R.F. Kuang's latest novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
I Scoured the Summer Runways—Here Are the Six Shoe Trends Actually Worth Buying
Hit the ground running this season.
By Emma Childs
-
Kim Kardashian Bought Princess Diana's Amethyst Cross for $200k, And Now It's an Amazing Meme
I'm sorry for laughing.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Kim Kardashian Said She's "Disgusted and Outraged" by Balenciaga's Holiday Campaign, Is "Re-evaluating" Her Relationship With the Brand
The star has worked with Balenciaga many times.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Sarah Hyland and Adam Devine Play 'How Well Do You Know Your Co-Star?'
The 'Modern Family' stars reunited for the 'Pitch Perfect' spinoff series.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
See the Kardashian Sisters Dressed Up as Kris Jenner for Her Birthday
Halloween isn't over in Calabasas.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
The 78 Best Celebrity Couple Halloween Costumes of All Time
Honestly, we're impressed.
By Charlotte Chilton
-
Khloé Kardashian Skilfully Summed Up Kim's "Get Your F***ing Ass Up and Work" Controversy
Khloé knows what's up.
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Khloé Kardashian Was Spotted Cozying Up With Italian Actor Michele Morrone in Milan
Are they dating???
By Iris Goldsztajn
-
Super Rare Photos of Queen Elizabeth as a Young Woman
From childhood snapshots to portraits as a young princess, beautiful and rare photos of the late Queen Elizabeth as a young woman.
By Mehera Bonner